A cleavage fracture framework: New perspectives in cleavage modeling of ferritic steels

•A Cleavage Fracture Framework (CFF) is developed.•Existing models can be cast into the CFF.•The CFF is a powerful tool to develop advanced models.•The CFF allows to identify topics requiring a more physical fundamental understanding.

A wide variety of cleavage fracture models based on local approach and weakest link concepts applicable to ferritic steels are published in the open literature, characterized by various levels of complexity, type of microstructural information included and embedded physical laws. Here, a Cleavage Fracture Framework (CFF) is developed, within which each model finds a rational location, allowing one to classify models and to know what each model is implicitly assuming or neglecting. This CFF is demonstrated to be a powerful tool to develop advanced models, closer to physical phenomena. This work also identifies the need for a better understanding of physical phenomena in conjunction with microstructural investigation and appropriate modeling.